Description

Flow is an on-screen keyboard that enables exceptionally fast text input on your phone. It combines many different features to improve typing speed:

- Enter each word in a single gesture (similar to Swype or SlideIT). Touch the first letter, move your finger smoothly from one key to the next, and lift it when you reach the end of the word. Spaces between words are inserted automatically.

- The keyboard layout is optimized by analyzing common patterns in English words. The QWERTY layout used by most keyboards was designed for typing with two hands, and it's a terrible layout for on-screen use. The Flow layout is optimized so common words can be entered with the shortest, smoothest path possible.

- Keys are large and evenly spaced for improved accuracy.

- The most common punctuation symbols are directly available without needing a modifier key.

- Double letters are recognized automatically. You don't need to "scribble over" them like with Swype.

- When a word is recognized, it flashes briefly on top of the keyboard. You don't need to move your eyes away from the keyboard to verify it.

Try Flow today and start improving your typing speed - guaranteed, or your money back! (How many other free keyboards dare to promise THAT?) And please send feedback so we can continue to improve Flow. Suggestions and bug reports are always welcome. Flow is an open source project.

My review

Review from

Reviews

3.8

270 total

5 122

4 54

3 44

2 21

1 29

Abuzar Toronto

This is an exceptionally good keyboard. I've tried quite a few and this is better than the best. It's properly designed with usability in mind. It's a star example of how to rethink design to actually make work easier for the user. After having used this for a year, I can't go back to a qwerty screenboard, and even if I were to go back to a qwerty screenboard, it's very obvious that they aren't designed with usability in mind. Often, they're a replica of keyboards on the screen, which is very immature. Going forward, I'd like to see this app become more customizable, support a lot of other languages, and be ported to other platforms.

Brad Belikove

So close... revolutionary and fresh... awful and terribad It literally changed the way I think about all keyboards and apps. This way of thinking is absolutely revolutionary.... (unlike QWERTY layout.. like 120 years old?) sadly, every other keyboard does everything better. I used this layout with a better kb that allows custom layouts, made some improvements for single thumb typing and I'll never look back. Sadly, the way this one handles everything from voice input to accuracy like a joystick would handle typing...

Prem Patel

After getting used to the key layout of flow, I find that the normal qwerty layout of other keyboards is counterintuitive. Flow layout makes more sense for swiping input. There is just one issue that needs to be fixed. There is no auto spacing when swiping in chrome browser.

Pamela Dobson

Fast and intuitive! I've been using this for three years now, and find it to be they fastest and least error-prone way to "type" on my phone. I even shrunk the size a bit to make it quicker. Now, other keyboards are too spread out and illogical for me! Wish it was available on Android Wear!

Scot Ranney

Out of all the swiping style keyboards this is by far the best. Fast, clean, intelligent layout, and only a few minor annoyances. Testing gesture keyboards is a hobby and I always come might back to Flow. Great work!

Gene Venable

Nice tutorial I enjoyed this keyboard but now I see it hasn't been updated for a year, which makes me lose hope for it. I am back to MessagEase, though I am always on the lookout for fun and innovative keyboards.

User reviews

Abuzar Toronto June 17, 2017

This is an exceptionally good keyboard. I've tried quite a few and this is better than the best. It's properly designed with usability in mind. It's a star example of how to rethink design to actually make work easier for the user. After having used this for a year, I can't go back to a qwerty screenboard, and even if I were to go back to a qwerty screenboard, it's very obvious that they aren't designed with usability in mind. Often, they're a replica of keyboards on the screen, which is very immature. Going forward, I'd like to see this app become more customizable, support a lot of other languages, and be ported to other platforms.

So close... revolutionary and fresh... awful and terribad It literally changed the way I think about all keyboards and apps. This way of thinking is absolutely revolutionary.... (unlike QWERTY layout.. like 120 years old?) sadly, every other keyboard does everything better. I used this layout with a better kb that allows custom layouts, made some improvements for single thumb typing and I'll never look back. Sadly, the way this one handles everything from voice input to accuracy like a joystick would handle typing...

After getting used to the key layout of flow, I find that the normal qwerty layout of other keyboards is counterintuitive. Flow layout makes more sense for swiping input. There is just one issue that needs to be fixed. There is no auto spacing when swiping in chrome browser.

Fast and intuitive! I've been using this for three years now, and find it to be they fastest and least error-prone way to "type" on my phone. I even shrunk the size a bit to make it quicker. Now, other keyboards are too spread out and illogical for me! Wish it was available on Android Wear!

Out of all the swiping style keyboards this is by far the best. Fast, clean, intelligent layout, and only a few minor annoyances. Testing gesture keyboards is a hobby and I always come might back to Flow. Great work!

For entering URLs, you can long press . to disable spacing and capitalization. See the manual for details. Could you email me what the other issues and annoyances are? I want to fix them!

Gene Venable December 17, 2016

Nice tutorial I enjoyed this keyboard but now I see it hasn't been updated for a year, which makes me lose hope for it. I am back to MessagEase, though I am always on the lookout for fun and innovative keyboards.

Fantastic, best keyboard ever Sure it takes a little getting used to if you're used to qwerty, but this doesn't just make you faster within a week or two, but its also a more pleasant texting experience!

Love the alternative layout *EDIT: It seems that the recent update has resolved both of the issues I mentioned below.* Flow's layout allows more to be typed with less movement. This means faster, easier typing. And it really doesn't take much time to learn. However, the time it takes to process the input gesture is almost noticeable, which actually works against the superb design to limit your speed. The backspace repeat rate is slow as well. More frequent updates could make this the best keyboard on the market, though.

is a very nice keyboard interesting concept and seems to work in the few hours i have used it. only one problem i find is adding words to custom dictionary. I wish there was a way to enter them by editing some file so i can enter all at the same time. **Edit** I have found that the app uses the android custom directory that could be easily edited, imported or exported using UDM manager. Even better !!

Absolutely Amazing Keyboard Yes, there's a learning curve, but even that is fun! From concept to implementation, this keyboard simply rocks. I've tried many and there's only one that comes even close in quality, yet not in ease of use nor writing speed or accuracy. There's way more to say than fits here, so many clever design details done just perfectly right. An absolute delight to use!

So far this is intriguing The last update fixed the problem I was having and I can use this again, thank you. Its been a challenge to re-train my brain to this layout but it really works very well. It would be perfect if there was color combination options for the keys and an emoji selection like A. I kb because these predictions are tons better than most other kb's I've tried. Also, it still doesn't seem to recognize words that have an apostrophe at the end such as boys', when swiping.

Very good But it needs languages, like Romanian for instance... And I like to minimize the keyboard, to have more screen space, but the prediction candidates are remaining big on top. It would be nice to can be moved on the left (or on the right), aside the keyboard when the keyboard is small. And maybe some themes in the future, like a black one...

What sort of problems are you having with prediction? Perhaps you could email me the details? If you're having problems, I want to fix them!

Precious Thomas October 18, 2014

Don't use voice input. .. Very interesting unique keyboard; really liking it, but if I accidentally hit voice input, it bricks. I actually have to uninstall and reinstall to be able to use the app I was typing in! NOT ok...

Better flow-typing than any other keyboard The layout makes it easy to flow-type in English. A great idea that puts this keyboard ahead of all the commercial competitors. Adding words to the dictionary could be improved. However even tapping single keys is better than with other keyboards thanks to the key size.

Android already provides a mechanism for changing keyboards. Depending on your phone, you get to it either by long-pressing in the text field or by opening the notification shade.

Sydney K February 12, 2014

I like the setup I like how the keyboard is set up for easy typing of English words! It's fun and quirky and I live the simplicity of how it looks. The only thing I can complain about is that there is no key for an emoticon menu, which are important in my texts. If I had that, it would be perfect!

Missing some useful features Mostly really great, once you get used to it. However, it really needs a few things to keep me using it - please add a way to add custom words to dictionary from the keyboard, either automatically when you type in a word not in the dictionary, or pressing a key to add it. Also, ability to highlight a word and change to another suggested word, or to change case, would be excellent for when you accidentally select the wrong word etc.

Good concept.. But doesn't learn Do the tutorial a few times and you'll be ok but adding new words is too difficult n editing a word already entered isn't available................ Update 8/25/15 app still doesn't have a simple way to enter new words into dictionary. How isn't this essential?

Version 1.9 added a shortcut for quickly adding new words to the dictionary.

Christopher Stith March 8, 2014

It may seem like a weird layout but give it a chance. This is so quick and responsive. The keyboard size and key press delays are configurable. The layout takes some learning, but it doesn't take long.

Great idea, good execution I'm tempted to drop SwiftKey, although it has many more features, because the Flow layout just makes so much sense. How about optionally including ctrl/alt/tab in the controls panel? It would also be awesome if the compact keyboard could undock, or at least not take up the full screen width. Noticably slower on my Samsung Galaxy II.

Good work Very nice and fast but new words don't get added automatically, also words which have ' in them have to be traced with ' eg. The word don't cannot be traced simply as 'dont' which is a good feature of Google keypad also it would be better to have a space button when number pad is on and yeah if I exit the keypad while numpad was last on next time when I start it, it does not come back to alphabets and space button if larger would be helpful.... But still it is very efficient and im not changing it

The Greatest Keyboard Flow has become the only keyboard I use. Also, I must say that I'm quite impressed with the developer's response to suggestion. I requested that the letters Þþ and Ðð be added, and on that day an update was released which included them. Support for several different languages came four days later (something I said I was interested in seeing). If I could give six stars, I would do so without hesitation.